The 20 best places to watch the sunset in Australia

Where: Nawurlandja Lookout, Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory

Time: ~7.10pm in January or ~6.15pm in July

If you want a good sunset spot in Kakadu National Park, look no further than Nawurlandja Lookout. Just a 30-minute drive from Jabiru, it’s close enough to the main settlement that you won’t need to wake up too early to catch an epic look at first light. Get on the one-way walking track and clamber up a slight rocky incline (it’s a little steep in parts; you’ll need to be of moderate fitness) and head up to the rock platform that overlooks an impossibly wide stretching view across a bright green savannah, the Anbangbang Billabong and the ochre cliffs of the Arnhem Land escarpment. Keep your eyes peeled for rock wallabies and let yourself dissolve into the soft pastel silence. 

Where: Mindil Beach, Darwin, Northern Territory

Time: ~7.10pm in January or ~6.35pm in July

If perpetual summer and crocodiles are right up your alley, then Darwin should be on your to-visit list – more specifically, Mindil Beach for sublime Northern Territory sunsets. Located just a five-minute drive from the town centre on the western side of the peninsula, Mindil Beach offers eye-wateringly pretty sundowns over the Timor Sea. The stretch boasts tropical oceanside gardens, as well as the Mindil Beach Sunset Market during the dry season. Here, you’ll be spoiled with more than 200 stalls slinging both local delicacies and international cuisine heavy on Southeast Asian flavours. Spicy food and a spicy sundown are a winning combo. 

Where: Uluṟu Car Sunset Viewing Area, Northern Territory

Time: ~7.40pm in January or ~6.15pm in July

Say it louder for those in the back – in 2023, Uluru was named as the world’s very best sunset spot. What’s so special, you may ask? Well, if you park up at Uluru’s Car Sunset Viewing Area, you’ll be in for a full view of the western surface, where a reaction between the mineral particles in the sandstone and the sun’s rays reflects hues of yellow, pink, deep red and fluorescent orange. An Uluru sunset is nothing short of breathtaking – it’s no wonder watching it is a bucket-lister for many domestic and international travellers.

Where: Cable Beach, Broome, Western Australia

Time: ~6.30pm in January or ~5.30pm in July

Crowned as the world's third-best beach by Tripadvisor in 2023, it’s no surprise that Broome’s Cable Beach also puts on a sensational sunset. Located 2,000-odd kilometres north of Perth, it boasts white sandy flats that fade into the seemingly eternal Indian Ocean, where the sun sets over the broad horizon like a red rubber ball. Relish the dramatic fire in the sky atop a camel’s back or have your camera all geared up to snap the iconic Cable Beach mirror image as the gentle giants stroll by.

Where: Twelve Apostles, Port Campbell National Park, Victoria

Time: ~8.40pm in January or ~5.20pm in July

The Great Ocean Road is easily the most popular (and scenic) road trip in Australia. Add in a stunning sunset over the Southern Ocean, and you’ve got a recipe for something seriously spectacular. While there are plenty of magical spots along the coastline, our favourite vantage point is the Twelve Apostles in Port Campbell. Watching the day’s last rays bounce off the 20-million-year-old limestone stacks is breathtaking – just be prepared for it to get incredibly busy during peak season. For a more serene sunset experience, check out other stunners like Lorne Pier, Cape Otway Lightstation and the dramatic rock arch of London Bridge.

Where: Binalong Bay, Bay of Fires, Tasmania

Time: ~8.45pm in January or ~5pm in July

The Bay of Fires is famous for its striking orange lichen-covered granite boulders, but pair that natural pop of colour with a fiery sunset and you’ve got yourself one of Australia’s best golden hour spots. Our top pick is Binalong Bay, where you can brave an icy swim in the calm waters of the Pacific Ocean before settling in to watch the show. After the sun disappears, walk up to The Hub – Seaside for woodfired pizzas under the fairylights.

Where: Mount Osmond, Adelaide, South Australia

Time: ~8.40pm in January or ~5.20pm in July

Situated just five kilometres southeast of Adelaide’s city centre, Mount Osmond offers sweeping views across the CBD and Saint Vincent Gulf, as well as the neighbouring Mount Lofty Ranges. Oceanic sunset reflections can be viewed from the many trails scattered across the peak, with heights reaching 276 metres in elevation. Or, take it easy and simply pack a picnic, set up shop facing westward and visualise what it means to be part of ‘the 20-minute city’.

Where: Cottesloe Beach, Perth, Western Australia

Time: ~7.30pm in January or ~5.30pm in July

Cottesloe Beach is a go-to for the people of Perth when it comes to sunsets, morning swims, picnics and everything in between – and for good reason. The turquoise waters and mammoth pine trees aid in the cooling department, while the sun beams over the Indian Ocean horizon in all its glory. Pubs and restaurants line the high street, which also serves as an idyllic pozzy for satisfying more than just the visual senses. At just a 25-minute drive southwest of Perth city, Cottesloe Beach is a spectacular smorgasbord with one of the best sunsets in Australia.  

Where: Port Willunga Jetty Pylons, South Australia

Time: ~8.30pm in January or ~5.30pm in July

Big with avid photographers, the Port Willunga Jetty Pylons are a prime setting for soaking up the coastal South Australian sunset. Don’t be fooled by the word ‘jetty'; you won’t find a walkway hovering over the crashing ocean, just remnants of the 1868 rebuild of the Port Willunga Jetty. The rotting pylons unite with jagged shoreline rocks and spits of incoming swell to create a striking sunset foreground. You’ll find the semi-rural pylons 45 kilometres south of Adelaide’s city centre, where gazing from the comfort of cliffside caves carved out by yesteryear fishermen is the place to be.

Where: Haigh Park, Lake Moogerah, Scenic Rim, Queensland

Time: ~6.40pm in January or ~5.10pm in July

If you’re looking for a scenic sunset in Queensland, head straight for the Scenic Rim. Located just a short drive from Brisbane or the Gold Coast, Haigh Park is a peaceful piece of rural paradise well away from the city glow. That means you can watch the sky light up in fiery hues as it reflects off the calm lake, then stick around for a stellar stargazing session. You can even pitch a tent at Moogerah Lakeside Bush Retreat or go bush glamping at Moogie House and then do it all again the next night. 

Where: The Neck, Bruny Island, Tasmania

Time: ~8.40pm in January or ~4.50pm in July

Aptly named, The Neck is Bruny Island’s finest spot for catching a Tasmanian sunset, all thanks to the elongated isthmus to the north and south, resulting in oceanic views, double time. The lush isle is a nature enthusiast’s haven with its rugged coasts, hiking trails, rare birds and whatnot – the serene dusk is the cherry on top. Glide up 279 steps to Truganini Lookout, where 360-degree views of The Neck and mainland Tasmania are a blessing for the eyes as the light declines. A 20-minute ferry ride from Hobart will get you to the brilliant Bruny Island.

Where: Horseshoe Bay, Magnetic Island, Queensland

Time: ~6.40pm in January or ~5.55pm in July

While Queensland is best known for its eastern sunrises, there’s a hotspot in the north that turns up the heat – Magnetic Island, that is. The mountainous oasis may be small in size, but it hosts a whopping 23 bays of bright blue waters and is reminiscent of an equatorial paradise. And it’s just a 20-minute ferry ride from Townsville – how about it? Magnetic Island pitches a fair few vantage points for a remarkable twilight session. Locals recommend Horseshoe Bay, West Point overlooking Townsville, along with Hawkings Point for the best sunsets on the Coral Sea.

Where: Derby Jetty, Kimberley, Western Australia

Time: ~7.20pm in January or ~5.30pm in July

You might not have heard of Derby, but this friendly outback town near the mouth of the mighty Fitzroy River is actually home to the country’s biggest tides – reaching up to a mega 12 metres. No trip to this spot in the Kimberley region is complete without a sunset stroll along the old wooden jetty, which was first built in 1894. The jetty is lit at night, making it the perfect spot to soak up the sunset as you watch the tide roll in.

Where: St Kilda Pier, Melbourne, Victoria

Time: ~8.45pm in January or ~5.20pm in July

An oldie but a goodie. Perch yourself on the weathered footbridge, dangle your feet into Port Phillip Bay, cast out as the sun sets – and stick around to catch the post-dusk penguin parade. Yes, that's right. You can see little penguins right at St Kilda’s breakwater as twilight falls and the colony of around 100 teeny guys heads home.

Where: Dairy Farmers Hill Lookout, National Arboretum, Canberra, ACT

Time: ~8.40pm in January or ~5.20pm in July

Australia’s Capital Territory may be landlocked, but that doesn’t mean beaut sunsets are off the cards. Dairy Farmers Hill Lookout within Canberra’s National Arboretum is a stellar locale for 360-degree views over the main drag, neighbourhoods, surrounding national forests and beyond. In as little as a ten-minute drive from central Canberra, Dairy Farmers Hill Lookout serves up sunsets behind the wave-like valleys, creating soft silhouettes of faraway flora and maybe even some fauna. 

Where: Kangaroo Point, Brisbane, Queensland

Time: ~6.45pm in January or ~5.05pm in July

Perch yourself high over the Brisbane River at the marvellous Kangaroo Point – 18 metres high, to be precise. The inner-city suburb is a popular spot for watching the sundown with a CBD skyline backdrop, accompanied by Brisbane’s hilly outskirts in the distance. It’s the perfect combination of natural beauty and shiny cosmopolitan clutter. Park benches amongst the shrubbery and grassy patches make for divine spots to plonk your toosh and enjoy one of the best sunsets in Australia’s eastern cities.